I WAS shocked when the “cruelty” of former flight attendant Yim Pek Ha was first reported. Now, I am even more shocked at the sentence meted out (”Housewife guilty of maid abuse” — NST, Nov 28).

Is this what you call “justice tempered with mercy”?

Granted, this woman has been found to have committed a crime against her maid Nirmala Bonat and has been found guilty. But justice must be tempered with mercy.

To sentence her to 18 years imprisonment speaks very badly of our learned judge and justice system. It did not take into consideration that a family’s well-being — Yim has four young children — will be very badly affected.

Rather, the sentence meted out only serves to whet the appetite for vengeance from the public and in particular, our neighbouring country’s press and people.

Everyone was crying for blood when the case first came up — especially our neighbouring country.

The sentence does not reflect a justice system that is fair and merciful. Don’t you think a punishment of, say, a RM30,000 fine and a three-year bond of good behaviour is enough? Do we need to overcrowd our prisons — meant for hardcore criminals — with people like Yim? I shudder to think what will happen to her family.

Dear judges who are part of our justice system, have mercy.

TEOH BOO SIEW, Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – November 30, 2008